How will Alex Poythress’ injury affect the Kentucky Wildcats?

Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN actually had a sort of a roundtable as to how this will affect Kentucky and here is one of the questions they addressed:

"Biggest Impact Seth Greenberg: His experience and his voice. He’s vocal by his actions, and he always does the right thing. He doesn’t just do the right thing on the court, but off the floor. He’s a great kid, and his impact can be felt as much in the locker room as on the court. … He also generates energy. He makes plays that create energy, whether it be tip-dunks or blocking shots. He’s like a shot of espresso at a time when they need it. Sean Farnham: It hurts you from an experience standpoint more than anything. He’s been around the program and has assumed a leadership role. It doesn’t mean he can’t still be a leader, though. To me, Alex Poythress was the stabilizing glue. I know his motor wasn’t always great, but he had a way of blending in and it never being about him. You need guys like that. Jeff Goodman: It’s all about the intangibles with Poythress. He wasn’t a vocal guy, but he is the poster boy for the “lead by example” mantra. He’s also a guy who didn’t seem to be worried about “getting his,” which is important on a team with so many mouths to feed. Poythress doesn’t always play with energy, but when he does he’s a game-changer. They’ll miss him in certain games, but now Calipari can put his best players on the court even more, which is ultimately what you want to do."

The rest of the article pretty much sums up what I have said in that Kentucky is the one team that can overcome this loss.  I love Alex Poythress and he does a ton of things that do not show up in the box score and THAT will be hard to replace and it will be hard to replace the intangibles that he brings.  It will be a tough stretch of schedule to deal with, but this team will be on the right course just in time for Louisville, or even UCLA.  There are only three games the rest of the year, so a lot will get worked out in practice.

And do not underestimate the effect of Kentucky’s practices.  On most occasions, Kentucky’s practices sessions are tougher than some games.  This team will respond.

Another interesting aspect of the ESPN article was the anonymous quotes from coaches on the Alex Poythress injury.  It was kind of a mixed bag.  Some of the coaches think this is the end of the platoon system (I do not) and some coaches seem to think the offense will run better without Poythress but UK will miss the intangibles.  The common theme is that this team is still to be feared and very dangerous.  I will leave you with some of the coaches comments.

"“Honestly, Lyles is a better scorer and now you have less of “have to play everybody” problems. It’s hard to play 10 guys equally. Normally you want an 8-man rotation with the ninth and 10th being guys that play 2-3 minutes some games and maybe 15 or so in a game here and there. By having to play 10 guys equally, it gets hard to get in a rhythm as a unit. Now Cal doesn’t have to worry about it, and Lyles is more of a perimeter threat who will open things up for the guards and bigs.” 3. “I feared Poythress’ energy and activity. He gets a lot done on the floor without them ever calling a play for him. His explosiveness in the open court energizes their team. He is underrated at this level and how he is projected as a draft prospect in my opinion prior to the injury. The only good news for UK with this is that it provides an excuse to abandon the platoons.” 4. “He’s another athletic body. I think the bigger loss is their guard, Booker [who missed the Columbia game due to injury]. They need his shooting along with the twins’. The entire key to their team is guard play, not their bigs. A team with great guards and perimeter play can hurt them, someone that plays with a perimeter 4-man that can spread them out. It’s hard to play the power game with them.”"